Cell membrane is the outer layer of cell. in plants there is a cell wall above cell membranes but in animal cells there is only a cell membrane.
It has a complex structure relating to it function.
<h3><u>Structure:</u></h3>
It is a lipid bilayer. lipids are phospholipids.
Heads of phospholipids are in outer side while tails are in inner portion of bilayer forming hydrophobic inside the bilayer and hydrophilic outer layer/sides of membrane.
There are also embedded proteins in lipid bilayer forming mosaic like shape.
There is small amount of cholesterol attached to membrane.
There are also specific glycoproteins projecting out side the cell.
The structure is a phospholipid bilayer. There are many phospholipids which contain a water loving phosphate end and a water hating lipid (fatty) end. The phosphate ends all point out words while the fatty ends are inside.
The purpose is protection of the cell as well as allowing certain molecules to enter and exit the cell
